Timing device



Sept. 9, 1969 w. G. VON MEYER TIMING DBVICE Fi1ed March 25. 1968 F'IG.4

INVENTOR WALTER c. VON MEYER A 7' TORNE VS United States Patent O 3465516 TIMING DEVICE Walter G. Von Meyer, 1504 Port Jelferson Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365 Filed Max. 25, 1968, Sex. N0. 715,654 Int. C1. G04f 1/06 U.S. C]. 58144 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A timing device cornprising a transparent tube having end caps for supporting the tube in either upright or inverted positions. The tube is filled With a liquid and a float metnber is provided in the tube The float mernber has indicia means thereon and is proportioned and weight such that when the timing device is inverted, the indicia means rotates and is always readable.

This invention relates to timing devices.

Among the objects f the invention are to provide a W cost tirning device which has an automatically rotatable float member with indicia means such as advertising thereon that is always in upright readable position regardless of the upright or inverted position of the timing device; which is low in cost; simple in design and attractive in appearance.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a timing device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the tirning device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a view of the device shown in FIG. 1 when it is used as a level.

Referring to the drawings, the timing device 10 embodying the invention comprises a plastic tube 11 which is oval in cross section and end caps 12 cf plastic sealed to the ends of the tube. The end caps have flat surfaces 13 that serve to support the timing device in upright and inverted positions.

The timing device is substantially filled with a liquid 14, leaving a small air bubble 18, and a float 15 is provided in the device. The float 15 is generally circular and preferably of uniform thickness and includes a weight 16 in the lower end thereof. Indicia 17 such as advertising are provided on one 0r both surfaces of the float.

The distribution of weight of the float results in the tendency of the float to always remain in position such that the indicia 17 is always readable.

Thus with the float at the upper end as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the timing device 10 is inverted by rotating, the float will then be at the bottom of the device. The float will then begin to rise and during the rising motion the weight 16 will cause the float to rotate briuging the indicia 17 into upright readable osition.

The tube of the timing device rnay be made of any suitable transparent plastic such as cellulose acetate or cellulose butyrate. The liquid 14 may be transparent, such as silicone fluid. The float may also be made cf any suitable plastic such as Delrin, Celcon or polyethylene. The

3,465,516 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 viscosity of the liquid 14 and the density of the float may be proportioned to control the length of time the float rises or moves from one end 0f the tube to the other.

It Will thus be seen that each time the timing device is used, the whole unit will have to be turned end for end, and as the user Sets the timing device down on one of the bases 13, the float carrying the advertising indicia Will be automatically rotated, thus drawing the users attention to the advertising matter appearing on the float. The purpose of not -completely filling the tirner with liquid, and leaving a small bubble 18, is to perrnit the device to be used as a level in addition to its function as a timer.

I claim:

1. In a timing device, the combination comprising a container having at least a portion cf one Wall thereof which is transparent,

said container being non-circular in cross section and closed and completely sealed,

a liquid filling said container,

means for supporting said container with its longest dimension extending vertically in upright and inverted positions,

and a float member within said container,

the internal shape cf said container being such as to guide the float whereby its plane of movement in the container remains the same, said float member having at least one surface cooperating With an internal surface of the container for effecting guiding of the float and being of a material having diiferent density than that of the liquid,

said float rnember having indicia means thereon, the

size, shape and weight distribution of said float member being such that the float and indicia means is automatically rotatable and extends in visible, readable position in both the upright and inverted positions of the container.

2. The cornbination set forth in claim 1 wherein said container comprises an elongated tube.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for supporting said container comprises flat closure members on the ends of said tubes.

4. The combination set forth in clairn 2 wherein said ruhe has an oval cross section.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said liquid substantially fills said container leaving a small bubble of air to permit the device t0 be used as a liquid level.

6. The combination set forth in clairn 2 wherein said tube is made of transparent plastic material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 552,134 12/1895 Miller 40310 3025,665 3/1962 Dock et a1 58144 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Prirnary Examiner EDITH C. SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 40-3 10 

